Physical Treatment Garment

ABSTRACT

Physical treatment garment for aiding in treatment and healing of injured or strained muscles. Garment is made of flexible material that can be pulled up around the waist, such as compression shorts or full length tights or leggings, and the garment has one or more pockets in the thigh and/or hamstring area to hold cold packs or heat packs and have a fastener apparatus at the top. The garment has fastening apparatuses on or about the hip area and on or about just above the knee. Using a flexible or compression wrap with the compatible fastening apparatuses, the compression wrap is wrapped around the leg and/or groin area and secured using the fastening apparatuses. Pockets for ice or heat treatment are similarly located in the front or rear of the tights or leggings with fastening connections to hold ice or heat packs for treatment of the applicable injury.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This non-provisional patent application claims priority and benefit ofU.S. provisional patent application having application No. 61/804,594,filed on Mar. 22, 2013, and entitled “Medical Treatment Garment,” whichis hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to support garments for treatingmuscle injuries.

2. Description of Related Art

Compression wraps used to treat muscle and other soft tissue injuriesand discomforts typically involve wrapping a compression wrap around aperson's body and securing the ends of the compression wrap to the bodywith hook and loop material, metal clips, or tape to hold the wrap inplace. There are also flexible sleeves that can be pulled up from thefoot to the thigh to create compression of the muscle, which istypically one of the treatments for an injured muscle. However, aconstant problem typically experienced with these devices, particularlywhen used to treat a lower body injury, is that the devices tend toslide out of place, such as sliding down the leg when walking orotherwise moving about. Another problem when recovering from an injuryusing typical flexible wraps is icing or heating the injured area. Inparticular, if a user needs to walk or move about, the ice or heatdevice typically falls out of the wrap or slides out of place. If anathlete has a strained muscle, the athlete is often able to participatein athletic events if wrapped or taped. However, humidity, perspirationand constant movement often lead to a wrap coming undone.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved design for compressionwraps that remain secured in place and at the desired location on auser's body during activity, as well as the ability to apply ice andheat treatment while still being able to move about during regular dailyactivity.

ASPECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is to provide compression wraps thatremained secured to a user's body and do not come undone.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide compression wrapsthat remain in desired locations on a user's body and do not slip orslide to another location during activity of a user.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide improvedclothing that secures compression wraps in a desired location and allowsfor the treatment by ice and/or cold packs and/or heat packs in asecured pocket to treat the injured area.

An additional aspect of the present invention is to improve the comfortand recovery time of persons who suffer a muscle or ligament injury andto be able to treat the injury more effectively.

Another aspect of the present invention is to support minor strainswhile further allowing an individual to participate uninterrupted indaily activities.

In order to achieve these aspects, the present invention provides aphysical treatment garment having a pair of flexible shorts constructedof flexible material, a plurality of fastening apparatuses on multiplefastening areas on the pair of shorts, and a flexible wrap having afirst end with a fastening apparatus and a second end with a fasteningapparatus for releasably coupling the flexible wrap to the fasteningapparatuses on the shorts, wherein the first end and the second end ofthe flexible wrap each can be attached a fastening apparatus on theflexible shorts to apply compression to an injured area, and theflexible wrap can be completely removed from the shorts for washing andcleaning. The plurality of the fastening apparatuses on the flexibleshorts preferably are located on an upper portion proximate to a hip andwaist area of the flexible shorts, and a plurality of the fasteningapparatuses that are preferably located on the flexible shorts at alower portion of the flexible shorts that are proximate just above aknee area, wherein the flexible wrap can be connected to the flexibleshorts between the upper portion and the lower portion of the flexibleshorts to provide compression treatment to thigh, groin and hamstringareas of a user's body.

The foregoing, as outlined rather broadly, the preferred features of thepresent invention so that those skilled in the art may better understandthe detailed description of the invention that follows. Additionalfeatures of the invention will be described hereinafter that form thesubject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art shouldappreciate that they can readily use the disclosed invention andspecific embodiments as a basis for designing or modifying otherstructures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention,and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scopeof the invention in its broadest form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of compression shorts configured inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the compression shorts shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the compression shorts shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the compression shorts shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5A is a front view of the compression shorts in FIGS. 1-4, whereina compression wrap is starting to be wrapped around the right leg;

FIG. 5B is a rear view of the compression shorts shown in FIG. 5Aincluding the compression wrap;

FIG. 5C is a front view of the compression shorts shown in FIGS. 5A and5B, wherein the compression wrap is further wrapped around the rightleg;

FIG. 5D is a front view of the compression shorts shown in FIGS. 5A-5C,wherein the compression wrapped is wrapped around and secured to theright leg;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the compression shorts shown inFIGS. 1-4, wherein a pocket for holding a hot or cold pack in the rearof the right leg is illustrated;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the compression shorts shown inFIGS. 1-4, wherein a pocket for holding a folded compression wrap in therear of right leg is illustrated, and both an unfolded and foldedcompression wrap are illustrated;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the compression shorts shown in FIGS. 1-4,wherein a compression wrap is shown being connected to the front of thecompression shorts;

FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of the compression shorts shown inFIG. 5D, wherein a compression wrap is secured to the right leg;

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the compression shorts shown inFIGS. 1-4, wherein a pocket on the rear of the right let is illustratedhaving a sealing apparatus for holding a hot or cold pack within thepocket;

FIG. 10 a is an enlarged perspective view of the fastening apparatusshown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a full length physical therapy garment pantsconfigured in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the full length physical therapy garmentshown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a rear view of the physical therapy garment shown in FIGS. 11and 12; and

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of a full length physical therapygarment shirt configured in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a front view of a physicaltreatment garment 100 configured in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention. The physical treatment garmentpreferably is compression shorts 100. Compression shorts 100 aregenerally constructed of tight flexible fabric, such as polyester,elastane, or spandex.

In accordance with the present invention, a pair of shorts, leggings orflexible or compression shorts 100 are provided that are form fittingfrom the waist to just above the knee, and fastening areas 102 arelocated at the hip and waist area on the shorts 100. The fastening areas102 include fastening apparatuses 104, such as a patch ofloops-and-hooks. One type of patch of loops-and-hooks is Velcro®. Othertypes of fastening, connecting, or securing apparatuses 104 includesnaps, zippers or buttons, but loops-and-hooks such as Velcro® arepreferred. The purpose of the loops-and-hooks in this area is to securea compression wrap to the fastening areas 102, wherein theloops-and-hooks or other type of fastening apparatus 104 secures aflexible wrap to the shorts in a desired location and prevents thecompression wrap from sliding down the leg of the compression shorts100.

FIGS. 1 and 2 also illustrate a pocket 106 on the left front leg 103 ofthe compression shorts 100, and a pocket 110 on the back of the rightleg 101 of the flexible or compression shorts 100. A closing apparatus108 is used to close the pocket 106 on the left leg 103, and a closingapparatus 112 is used to close the pocket 110 on the right leg. Thepockets 106, 110 preferably are constructed of the same material andthickness as the compression shorts 100, and preferably secured to theshorts 100 by stitching and/or glue. The closing apparatuses 108, 112are preferably loops-and-hooks, such as Velcro®, attached to the insidewall of the top of the pockets 106, 110 and a directly opposing locationon the outside of the shorts 100. In other embodiments the closingapparatuses can be buttons and button holes, zippers, or snaps.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the compression shorts 100 shownin FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 illustrates the fastening apparatuses on theupper portion 111 of the compression shorts 100, and fasteningapparatuses 104 of the lower portion or legs 113 of the compressionshorts 100. The fastening apparatuses 104 are preferably Velcro® wherethe loops or cloth side of the Velcro® is attached to the fasteningareas 102, and the hooks side of the Velcro® is on wraps 120 (FIGS.5A-5D).

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the compression shorts 100 shown inFIGS. 1-3. The pocket 106 and closing apparatus 108 are shown on thelower portion 113 of the compression shorts 100.

FIGS. 5A-5D show multiple views of the compression shorts 100 shown inFIGS. 1-4, and a process of the applying a compression wrap 120 to theright leg 101 of the compression shorts, preferably while being worn bya user. FIG. 5A is a front view of the compression shorts 100, FIG. 5Bis a rear view of the compression shorts 100, and FIGS. 5C and 5D arefront views of the compression shorts 100. For illustration purposes,the wrap 120 is shown being applied to the right leg 101 and over therear pocket 110. The wrap 120, of course, can be applied to the left leg103 in a similar manner as the right leg 101, and a separate compressionwrap 120 can be applied to each leg 101, 103 if necessary for physicaltreatment of multiple injuries.

Beginning with FIG. 5A, a first end 121 of the compression wrap 120 issecured to a fastening apparatus 104 on the front of the upper portion111 of the compression shorts 100. A fastening apparatus 122 on thecompression wrap 120, such as the hooks side of Velcro®, is secured tothe loops side of the Velcro® on the fastening apparatus 104 on thefront of the upper portion 111 of the compression shorts 100. Thecompression wrap 120 is then wrapped behind the right leg 101 of thecompression shorts 100, as shown in FIG. 5B. The compression wrap 120 ispreferably then wrapped around the rear of the right leg 101 again asshown in FIG. 5C, and in the process, covers at least a portion of rearpocket 106. In FIG. 5D the second end 123 of the compression wrap 120 isshown secured to the fastening apparatus 104 on the lower portion 113 onthe front of the right leg 101, preferably by connecting the opposingloops and hooks of Velcro® 104, 122 on the compression shorts 100 andcompression wrap 120, respectively. While the above descriptiondiscusses wrapping the compression wrap 120 from the upper portion 111around a leg to the lower portion 113 of the compression shorts 100, thecompression wrap also can be applied by wrapping the compression wrap120 from the lower portion 113 to the upper portion 111 of thecompression shorts 100. Similarly, the compression wrap 120 can beapplied to the compression shorts 100 to cover the front pocket 106.

As discussed above, the compression wrap 120 preferably is connected orsecured to the compression shorts 100 via loop-and-hook fasteners at thehip or waist area of the compression shorts 100, and then can be wrappedaround the groin and thigh area, creating compression for an injured orstrained muscle and/or ligaments. Securing the compression wrap 120 withVelcro® at the hip or waist area will prevent the compression wrap 120from sliding down the leg when a user is walking or otherwise movingabout during regular daily activities or exercise.

While the preferred fastening areas 102 for the fastening apparatuses104 are at the waist or hip area and just above the knee, there can beother fastening areas 102 with fastening apparatuses 104 along thecompression shorts or leggings 100 to further restrict slippage of thecompression wrap. 120. The form fitting compression shorts 100 and thecompression wrap 120 further enable a user with an injury to wear acompression wrap under their clothing so that they can continue to treattheir injury with compression while carrying on with their normal dailyactivities.

It should be noted that while the illustrated embodiment is compressionshorts, the present invention also can just as easily be applied to legwear and arm wear. For example, conventional socks or compression sockscan be modified in accordance with the present invention to includefastening areas and fastening apparatuses as taught in the presentinvention. Similarly, conventional or compression arm wear can bemodified in accordance with the present invention to include fasteningareas and fastening apparatuses for compression wraps and pockets astaught in the present invention.

Although slipping of a flexible or compression wrap is more problematicwith a quadriceps or hamstring injury, it also occurs with knee and calfinjuries. The present invention can be applied to pants or full lengthleggings with loops-and-hooks or other fastening device at or near theknee and calf. The full length pants or leggings preferably are made ofthe same materials in order to help heal calf injures and shin splints.The full length pants or leggings can include pockets in front for shinsplint injuries and in the back for calf injuries. With a full leggingdevice configured in accordance with the present invention, a user withcalf injuries or shin splints (common among runners) can be treated withcompression, cold packs or heat packs, just as with a thigh, hamstringor groin injury as shown in the figures.

In other embodiments of the present invention the flexible orcompression wrap 120 could be permanently attached to the compressionshorts 100 with stitching at the waist or knee area, but one end wouldstill need to remain unconnected with the hook and loop on one end inorder to connect the wrap and prevent it from slipping during use.Although the drawings all show the use of Velcro® to secure the wrap 120to the garment 100, it is possible that other means, such as snaps,zippers, buttons or the like could be used to secure wrap 120 and/or tosecure the ice or heat pack 130 in the pocket 106, 110. It is alsopossible to have one end of the wrap 120 stitched to the garment 100 atthe hip, with a fastening apparatus just at the knee. However, this maycreate problems with washing the physical treatment garment 100 if thecompression wrap 120 is permanently attached to the garment 100. Thus,the preferred embodiment uses hooks-and-loops to fasten the flexiblewrap 120 and to secure the ice and heat pack 130 within the pocket 110.

A physical treatment garment and compression wrap configured inaccordance with the present invention can be used to treat a studentathlete that has a leg injury or even allow them to participate inathletic events, even if the athlete has a minor strain. The physicaltreatment garment of the present invention can even be returned afterthe injury heals, so that a school has it available when another athletehas a leg injury.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, thepockets 106 and 110 are added to the compression shorts 100 on the frontand back of the thighs as shown in FIGS. 1-5D. The pockets 106, 110 canbe sewn to either leg of the compression shorts or garment 100, and infront or in back or on the side of a leg of the compression shorts 100.The pockets 106, 110 can also be sewn onto the compression shorts 100 inmultiple places on the same compression shorts 100, such as front, back,and sides of one or both legs of the compression shorts 100. Includingpockets on all multiple locations on the compression shorts 100 isbeneficial for athletic training facilities at high schools, collegesand universities that have athletic programs.

FIG. 6 illustrates the pocket 110 on the rear of the right leg 101 ofthe compression shorts 100. Also illustrated is a heat or cold pack 130being inserted into the rear pocket 110, and how an ice or heat pack canbe inserted into the pocket 110 of the physical treatment garment 100 totreat the muscle injury, which in this example can be a hamstring.

In accordance with the present invention, the pockets 106, 110 can beused when needed to receive cold gel packs and/or heat packs 130 fortreatment of an injury. The pockets 106, 110 preferably are constructedof the same or similar flexible fabric as the compression shorts 100.The fastening apparatuses 108, 112 on the pockets 106, 110,respectively, can be opened or closed with loops-and-hooks or anotherfastening device, such as a zipper, snaps or buttons. The pockets 106,110 allow a user to insert a cold pack (such as a cold gel pack) or heatpack (such as a hot water bottle or disposable heat packs commonly knownas hand warmers) 130 and still be able to move about while treatingtheir injury with cold or heat.

FIG. 7 shows how a compressing wrap 120 can be folded or rolled up andstored in the pocket 110 when the compression shorts 100 are not beingused to treat muscle injuries.

FIG. 8 is another view from the front of the compression shorts 100,wherein the compression wrap 120 is secured to the fastening apparatus104 on the upper portion 111 of the compression shorts 100. Asillustrated in FIG. 8, the locations and arrangement of the compressionwrap 120 is secured to the compression shorts 100 and can be varied totreat different injuries.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the compression wrap 120 being wrapped aroundthe right leg 101 of the compression shorts 100 as previously shown inFIG. 5D. The connection at the hip/waist area 111 and at the knee orjust above the knee area 113 demonstrate how the compression shorts orphysical treatment garment 100 will keep the wrap 120 in place when awearer of the compression shorts 100 is working and/or performing normalevery day activities while maintaining compression treatment.

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the rear pocket 110 of thecompression shorts 100 and demonstrates how a gel pack 130 can beinserted into the pocket 110 and secured within the pocket 110 using thefastening apparatus 112 with hooks-and-loops, or other fastening device.

FIG. 10 a is an enlarged view of the fastening apparatus 112 on thepocket 110. As shown in FIG. 10 a, the fastening apparatus 112 isVelcro®, wherein the cloth or loops portion 114 of the Velcro®preferably is on the compression shorts 100, and the hooks portion 115of the Velcro® preferably is on the inside back of the pocket 110.

FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of a full length physical therapygarment (pants/tights/leggings) 138 showing the fastening hook-and-loop(Velcro®)at the knee area 140 and ankle area 142 for securing theflexible compression wrap around the lower calf and shin area and apocket for securing an ice pack or heat pack 144 for treatment of a calfor shin splint injury.

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the full length physical therapygarment (pants/tights/leggings) 138 showing the fastening hook-and-loop(Velcro®)at the knee area 140 and ankle area 142 for securing theflexible compression wrap around the lower calf and shin area and apocket for securing an ice pack or heat pack 144 for treatment of a calfor shin splint injury.

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of the full length physical therapygarment (pants/tights/leggings) 138 showing the fastening hook-and-loop(Velcro®)at the knee area 140 and ankle area 142 for securing theflexible compression wrap around the lower calf and shin area and apocket for securing an ice pack or heat pack 144 for treatment of a calfor shin splint injury.

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of a physical therapy garment(compression shirt) 148 showing the fastening hook-and-loop (Velcro®)atthe shoulder area 150 and elbow area 152 for securing a flexiblecompression wrap around the arm and a pocket for securing an ice pack orheat pack 154 for treatment of a bicep or triceps injury.

While specific embodiments have been shown and described to point outfundamental and novel features of the invention as applied to thepreferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions andsubstitutions and changes of the form and details of the inventionillustrated and in the operation may be done by those skilled in theart, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A physical treatment garment, comprising: a pair of flexible shortsconstructed of flexible material; a plurality of fastening apparatuseson multiple fastening areas on the pair of shorts; and a flexible wraphaving a first end with a fastening apparatus and a second end with afastening apparatus for releasably coupling the flexible wrap to thefastening apparatuses on the shorts, wherein the first end and thesecond end of the flexible wrap each can be attached to a fasteningapparatus on the flexible shorts to apply compression to an injuredarea, and the flexible wrap can be completely removed from the shortsfor cleaning.
 2. The physical treatment garment of claim 1, wherein aplurality of the fastening apparatuses on the flexible shorts arelocated on an upper portion proximate to the hip and waist area of theflexible shorts, and a plurality of the fastening apparatuses on theshorts are located on a lower portion of the flexible shorts proximatejust above a knee area, wherein the flexible wrap can be connected tothe flexible shorts between the upper portion and the lower portion ofthe flexible shorts to provide compression treatment to thigh, groin andhamstring areas of a user's body.
 3. The physical treatment garment ofclaim 2, wherein the fastening apparatuses of the flexible shortsinclude hooks-and-loops, and the fastening apparatuses on the flexiblewrap include reciprocal hooks-and-loops to secure the flexible wrap tothe physical treatment garment.
 4. The physical treatment garment ofclaim 2, wherein the fastening apparatuses on the flexible shortsinclude buttons and the fastening apparatuses on the flexible wrapincludes button holes.
 5. The physical treatment garment of claim 2,wherein the fastening apparatuses on the flexible shorts and theflexible garment include zippers to secure the flexible wrap to theflexible shorts.
 6. The physical treatment garment of claim 2, whereinthe fastening apparatuses on the flexible shorts and the flexible wrapsinclude snaps for securing the flexible wrap to the flexible shorts. 7.The physical treatment garment of claim 2, wherein the flexible shortsinclude a pocket on a front and lower portion of the flexible shorts,and wherein the pocket includes a fastening apparatus for closing thepocket so as to secure a gel pack within for treating an injury.
 8. Thephysical treatment garment of claim 2, wherein the flexible shortsinclude a pocket on a rear and lower portion of the flexible shorts, andthe pocket includes a fastening apparatus for closing the pocket so asto secure a gel pack within for treating an injury.
 9. The physicaltreatment garment of claim 2, further comprising: a second flexible wrapa flexible wrap having a third end with a fastening apparatus and afourth end with a fastening apparatus for releasably coupling theflexible wrap to the fastening apparatuses on the shorts, wherein thethird end and the fourth end of the flexible wrap each can be attachedto a fastening apparatus on the flexible shorts to apply compression toan injured area, and the flexible wrap can be completely removed fromthe flexible shorts for cleaning.
 10. The physical treatment garment ofclaim 2, wherein the flexible wrap is to be wrapped around a leg of auser.
 11. A physical treatment garment, comprising: a flexible garmenthaving a circular configuration so as to be worn around at least one ofa person's torso, waist, hips, leg, and arm; a plurality of fasteningapparatuses on multiple fastening areas on the flexible garment; and aflexible wrap having a first end with a fastening apparatus and a secondend with a fastening apparatus for releasably coupling the flexible wrapto the fastening apparatuses on the flexible garment, wherein the firstend and the second end of the flexible wrap each can be attached to afastening apparatus on the flexible shorts to apply compression to aninjured area, and the flexible wrap can be completely removed from theflexible garment for cleaning.
 12. A physical treatment garment,comprising: a pair of flexible shorts constructed of flexible material;a plurality of fastening apparatuses on multiple fastening areas on thepair of shorts; and a flexible wrap having a first end and a second endwith a fastening apparatus for releasably coupling the flexible wrap tothe fastening apparatuses on the shorts, wherein the first end of theflexible wrap is permanently connected to an upper portion of theflexible shorts, and the second end of the flexible wrap is to besecured to a fastening apparatus on a lower portion of the flexibleshorts to apply compression to an injured area.